vagabond wrote:
people who don't acknowledge when you let them out at junctions, or when you do some other kind deed. A smile /wave/thank you doesn't cost much.
Yes that's a good one. But if I'm driving and have the right jacket on 99% of people let me out but I always wave. I even do that at Zebra Crossings.
Cycling shows the manners of other road users. If I've got my Hi-Viz vest on which you can't see from behind as the rucksack covers it you do get quite a few close vehicles as they pass. But if I've got my light-weight Hi-Viz Ex-MOD Police jacket on (Water proof) which covers the rucksack then they do treat you different giving you much more room as they pass.
Following on with the cycling - councils that rather than repair a road just cover it with chipping. I travel along a section of road everyday which is 1/2 to 3/4 mile long. It has recently been given a layer of chippings to get the grip back but one side of the road has an 18 inch rut which is around an inch lower in the inside of the lane. This is full of pot-holes which must be 3 to 4 inches deep ! If someone came along there in the dark who didn't know they were there there is a high possibility of them being thrown from a bike.
And my old favourite - Headlights (not side-lights) when it's raining or reduced light. If the brake lights of the vehicle in front look bright then you should probably have your headlights on. Coming home in the rain tonight it was very dull light ,around 85% of vehicles had no lights on. Of those who had a little under half only had side-lights on. Side-light according to the Highway code are only for parking. I've posted the section that quotes it either before in this thread or a similar thread.
The multi-LED rear light on my bike can be seen a long way off and my jacket is extremely reflective so I aim to make sure I can be seen.
And I wish they'd have campaign around here to catch illegal parking on crossings (think it's still 6 points for parking on Zig-Zags !). And countless people everyday holding their mobiles whilst driving. The only way to get the message across is to have a blitz nabbing people.
My main phone is totally hands free ,though even that's distracting when I answer it (or is it just I'm not used to using it mobile).
And last - Seat-belts - if I had £10 for everybody who dives to put their seat-belts on when they see me coming (in the car) then some weeks I won't need to work ! Best one every was the guy waiting to come out of side street just beyond the crossing in town. Someone used the crossing so I'd stopped ,then someone wanted to turn into the side street so a flashed and let them turn. In the meantime the other driver was looking sheepishly trying to put his seat-belt on. I indicted to him to come out of the junction which he was reluctant to exit. Can't remember which jacket I had on but it was probably a Hi-viz one so he might have thought he was about to get pulled over (bare in mind that the car has an array of aerials and a few gadgets are just visible on the dash).
Yes I know I should pull my finger out and make the career change then I would have the power to do something about some of the above.